Two icons of the 20th century that almost never were.
Neither man was particularly noteworthy until a convergence of events led each to rise to prominence. Winston Churchill and George Orwell are larger-than-life thought leaders that shaped their era and our own.
They epitomize the concept of late-in-life success.
In Thomas E. Ricks' dual biography, he outlines the similarities and vast differences between these two icons. The most striking similarity between the men is their rough start in life and struggle to find their respective places in history. Additionally, both men experienced close calls with death prior to their meteoric rise.
Learn about their struggles, triumphs, lives, and times. Plus, a link to author interview in this post!
Author: Thomas E. Ricks
Released: May 2017
Genre: Non-Fiction, History, Biography
Pages: 352
Audiobook Length: 10 hours (approx.)
Awards/Acclaim
A New York Times Book Review Notable Book of (2017)
A New York Times Bestseller
Amazon Editor's Pick in Best History
Book Review
The book is filled with interesting side stories. I found the ones of JFK Jr's father, Ambassador Joseph Kennedy, the most enthralling. He is mentioned on a number of occasions. Ambassador Kennedy, to my surprise, supported appeasement and negotiating with Nazi Germany.
The book is a fantastic way to quickly educate oneself on two giants of the 1900s. While not a page-turner, it excels at informing the reader about broader aspects of World War II, as well as the decline of the British empire.
About
George Orwell (1903-1950), born Eric Blair, is covered not as thoroughly as Winston Churchill (1874-1965) in this dual biography, but neither man is described as extensively as one would expect in a normal biography. This can be attributed to Orwell's shorter life and the dual aspect of juggling both individuals into a single book.
Within the pages or audio recording, depending on how you prefer to consume novels, you'll find stories of these men's childhoods, careers, loves, losses, and triumphs.
The bulk of the book comprises the lead-up to WWII, the war itself, and post-war reflections.
Thomas Ricks doesn't shy away from highlighting the faults within each individual. He does an exceptionable job of peering into their lives with the clear-eyed focus of an objectionable third party.
The book is a reminder that people from different classes, ideologies, and political parties can work towards the same goal - creating a more just democratic world.
Additional Comments
Orwell and Churchill spoke passionately about their political ideologies and had no issue calling out the faults of those within their respective parties. These were men of passion and conviction. They were willing to say what people didn't want to hear. They used their common love of language to fight against authoritarian rule.
“If this long island story of ours is to end at last, let it end only when each of us lies choking in his own blood upon the ground.” - Winston Churchill
These two Englishmen, imperfect sons of empire, spoke truth to power.
About the Author
Thomas E. Ricks is an adviser on national security at the New America Foundation. He is a contributing editor of Foreign Policy magazine, for which he writes the prizewinning blog The Best Defense.
He is best known as a reporter of military conflicts. He is the author of several books, including the number one New York Times bestseller Fiasco, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
You can listen to Ricks discuss Churchill and Orwell in the podcast below, in which he discusses authoritarian states, mass surveillance, economic systems, free societies, and more.
Thomas Ricks latest book is Waging a Good War and was released in October 2022.
Content Warnings
Offensive Language
Sexual Assault
Violence
Suicide
Verdict
Score: 8.75/10
Calling all history, foreign policy, and military buffs! This is a book with stories that will intrigue. As I said previously it is not a page-turner, but it is well researched and highly informative.
Pick it up at your library, local bookstore, or favorite online retailer.
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